Leeds centre Brett Delaney will leave the final decision about whether he plays in Sunday's Gillette World Club Challenge to the club's medical staff.
The 24-year-old Australian, who joined the Super League champion on a three-year contract from Gold Coast Titans, has made just two appearances for Leeds because of a knee injury and rates his chances of making his comeback in the Elland Road showdown with Melbourne Storm as 50-50.
Delaney told Press Association Sport: "It's a big game, it's the game I was looking forward to but I picked up that injury a few weeks ago and I'm a bit disappointed by that."
"If I don't play I just want to wish the boys luck. My chances are about 50-50 at the moment."
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan, who is expected to name Delaney in his initial 19-man squad on Friday, is hoping he recovers in time so that Kallum Watkins, who has deputised at centre in the last two matches, can switch to the wing in place of the injured Scott Donald.
Delaney, who was a straight replacement for England centre Lee Smith, added: "It's a bit touch and go and obviously it's a long season and I have to look after my knee. I don't want to be in one week and out the next."
"I think I'll leave it up to the medical staff to make a judgement on Friday. As it is, it's feeling all right, it's feeling good at the moment."
"We'll see how it is on Friday, we'll give it a fitness test and take it from there."
Delaney, who was with the Titans since their inception in 2003, knows just how difficult beating Melbourne can be, but insists his new club is more than capable of regaining the trophy.
"They're a well-structured side who have world-class players," he added.
"They have played together for a few years now so they're a pretty well-coached side and we've just got to shut down their good players."
"I'm sure we can do that because we've got some good players in our side, a lot of internationals. It'll be a good game."
"It's a big game and we want to win it. Since the Grand Final it's the next big game and we've been looking forward to it for a long time."
"Building up to the first few games of the year we always had it in the back of our minds. Hopefully, if I do play at the weekend, we'll go well."
If Leeds is to repeat its 2008 triumph over Storm, Delaney says the Super League champion needs to avoid the slow start that has characterised some of its games so far this season.
He said: "We've been starting games a bit slow and we can't do that on Sunday because Melbourne will come out of the blocks on fire and we've got to match it. I think we'll do that."
"They've got a lot of internationals and they're a great side because they've been in four Grand Finals back home in Australia."
"But the Leeds boys have won the last three and we're a great side so it'll be a good game and, if I'm in the 19, I just can't wait to get out there."